Norwegian band EVIG DIN FOR ALLTID is a project band consisting of four of the more prominent musicians from the music scene in Norwegian town Bergen, a local super-group if you like, where all the musicians involved are well renowned in their local as well as the national Norwegian scene. They have three albums to their name so far. “Åtte Minutter fra Solen” is the second of these, and was released through Norwegian label Apollon Records in 2014.
As a reviewer, I’ll have to admit that this is an album a bit outside of my comfort zone. Not because the band explores music a bit out there, as I’m fairly accustomed to just that, but rather because they explore music with a stronger commercial orientation. Radio and listener friendly pop/rock is the name of this particular game, and a rather Norwegian variety of that as well. Not due to the style, or rather styles, explored, but due to the use of Norwegian vocals throughout, and then with the emphasis on the particular dialect used in the town of Bergen.
The songs themselves aren’t quite as nationally flavored, but tend to place themselves inside various constellations of music ranging from the late 60’s to the mid 80’s in terms of when the style variations where most popular, at least as I experience this album. Title track 8 Minutter a delicate, Americana flavored affair of vocals and careful, plucked light toned guitars, while some other tracks explore more elaborate arrangements also pointing towards music with subtle Americana tinged flavoring by way of soft organ and plucked instrument details of various kinds combined with darker toned guitar details. En Annen Dag among the most interesting of these for me, a creation that for me gave associations towards the likes of Wall of Voodoo.
Other songs are tighter, firmer and rather more compact and playful in a vibrant power pop and even Tom Petty kind of way, and on a couple of occasions associations towards the likes of REM are very much at hand as well to my ears. Well developed and playful mainstream rock with a subtle edge, but with room for melancholic moods and atmospheres.
The musicians also opts to visit moods of a somewhat darker nature, with Livet E En Lek and especially Motorvei, the former a creation with a few distinct nods in the direction of The Doors, the latter playing out as a rather psychedelic tinged affair with effects laden guitar and sound effect details as liberal flavorings applied to a circulating bass and piano motif that sounds like something begged, borrowed or stolen from a classic The Doors song.
This is a band an an album with a limited reach I’d guess, as especially the vocals first and foremost will appeal to Norwegians and then those with an affection for the town of Bergen and the specific dialect used in that town and surrounding areas. Other than that, those with a taste for distinct mainstream oriented indie pop and rock ranging from The Doors to Tom Petty and REM appears to me to be a key audience for this album, and I should also add that the musicianship, mix and production is of excellent quality throughout: These are seasoned and skilled musicians, something which is evident throughout.
My rating: 78/100